Friday, October 30, 2009

A small forest fire broke out in Dabhada round of Jamwala range in Gir West. It burnt dry grass on about Five to Six Hacters land. After two hours of efforts by forest dept. it was controlled.

Kishore Kotecha's Comment:- The place is on road from Dhari to Jamwala where thousands of vehicles traveled during Diwali vacation was this fire due to some burning object like cigarette thrown by the commuter?

29-10-200924 crores will be spent on Lion ConservationDivya BhaskarBriefly translated from Gujarati

Govt. had budgeted 40 crores for lion conservation of which 16 crores are spent and Govt. has further sanctioned balance 24 crores for the same. Lion poaching incidence is not repeated after April 2007 incidence due to severe patrolling and prompt action in punishing poachers. Chief Minister Shri Narendra Modi has demanded more funds from central Govt. which is not sanctioned so far. But his state Govt. has already spent on staff recruitment, purchasing 50 jeeps, 200 motor – cycles, wireless sets, watch towers and night=vision cameras.

Shri Mangubhai Patel, Forest Minister declared that 10,000 of 17000 Open Wells have been protected in which corporates and NGOs also have participate. Regarding Ropeway project he said that Central Govt. Minister Shri Jairam Ramesh will come up with favourable solution.

News about rejection of rope-way project by central Govt. in response to concerns by environmentalists haas made public of Junagadh unhappy. Mayor Virda hence talked to central Govt – Forest Minister Jairam Ramesh and confirmed that the news was rumor he said that decision will be taken only after he and his team visits Junagadh to review the situation or damage to environment as stated by environmentalists.

No plastics allowed. Gas cylinders to be used for cooking - no wood to be used. The forest department has laid down these guidelines to minimize environmental damage that the Girnar Parikrama may cause.

More than 90,000 yatris have started the parikrama which is officially scheduled to begin on Thursday, said Junagadh collector Ashwani Kumar. Lili Parikrama, as it's known in Kathiawad, is an annual circular religious tour of Girnar by devotees.

Due to the efforts of the administration, police and forest department, yatris are now more conscious about the environment and understand why it's vital to save trees and protect the jungle. In the past, there have been incidents of forest fires and complaints of pollution.

Moreover, the Nalpani Ghodi forest department has set up counting points. Because of heavy rains this year, many roads were washed away and mud slides were reported. Forest department has cleared and repaired roads on a war footing. Chlorinated water and milk are being provided on the way. Hawkers are not permitted. Police force is also on alert to provide security.`

The Centre has put on hold the proposed ropeway to Gujarat's religious shrine atop Mount Girnar citing threat to the nesting of endangered vultures in the region.

The Standing Committee of National Board for Wildlife chaired by union environment minister Jairarm Ramesh at a recent meeting has asked a team of conservationists to visit the site and study the impact of the proposed project before deciding its fate.

"Girnar wildlife sanctuary is the only known colony of long-billed vultures in Gujarat. If the ropeway passes through the trees housing vulture nests, it will be a disaster," Asad Rehmani, a prominent conservationist from Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) and committee member, said.

He said 121 vultures (long-billed and white-beaked species vultures) were counted in the region in 2005 which have declined to 79, according to the 2007 census.

He said the environment impact assessment report submitted by a private firm Usha Breco Ltd seeking to construct the ropeway was not factually correct with particular reference to faunal diversity of the area.

The committee also observed the project seeking diversion of around seven hectares of Girnar forestland was yet to get environmental clearance.

However, the Gujarat Wildlife Department, strongly arguing in favour of the project, said it would only ease the pressure on the wildlife created by visiting devotees who currently pass through the jungle to reach the holy shrine atop Girnar.

Two days before the 36-km historic Girnar Parikrama - the amazing annual religious walk when devotees tread mountainous terrain to worship at temples located in the dense forest area - will officially commence, over 50,000 enthusiasts have already started their walk uphill.

Packed trains and buses are arriving at Bhavnath, the starting point of the walk every hour. Over one lakh people have already reached Bhavnath, sources said.

"The official walk will be flagged off at 12 pm on October 29. However, eager participants have already started the walk on their own," a source at Bhavnath said. Some wish to avoid the rush of lakhs of devotees and enjoy the three nights and four days of nature peacefully at their own pace," the source added.

Meanwhile, anticipating this, the district administration too had made arrangements by Tuesday morning. "Medical camps, water points, complete police security have all been put in place from Tuesday itself so that even early birds will get all the facilities," a district official said.

On its part, the forest department, which becomes the official host of the event, has also made all arrangements. District forest officer at Girnar Anita Karne said, "All arrangements are in place along the route from Bhavnath to Zina Bava ni Madhi to Malvela, Bordevi and back to Bhavnath. It's the forest department's responsibility to see that the roads are made and security is maintained. We have done our best to ensure that the event goes off smoothly."

Appealing to people to conserve natural surroundings, Karne said, "We have repeatedly appealed to people to maintain cleanliness along the route. Special bins have been put up and people are requested to dispose of all solid waste in them. It's our collective responsibility to preserve the environment."

Use of microphones by cultural groups who come to the parikrama have also been banned. "We have banned all loudspeakers since the last two years and have done our best to see that there's no noise pollution," Karne added.

26-10-2009Lioness attacks 13 year old boyGujarat SamacharBriefly translated from Gujarati

On 15th Oct. Keshu Lakha (Age – 35 year, Resident of Jasapur) and on 20th Oct Gunjabhai Janjiya Chowdhari (Age – 25 Resident of Jasapur) were attacked by lions. In recent incident, a 13 year old boy Mahesh Ratbhai Ratbhai Bambhava was returning back to his home in Ankolwadi from his farm on Bhamnasa Road. He was attacked by the lioness mother with two cubs near Chelana lake. Hearing his call for help, Bhupatbhai Rambhai Bharwad rushed and rescued the boy. He was taken to Talala and then to Junagadh hospital. He had about 18-19 stitches and severe injury.

Every year four day Girnar Parikrama is held in Junagadh starting from pious Dev – Diwali day. Lacs of tourists and pilgrims take about 35km circular route around Girnar mountain. Earlier the area was a reserved forest but now it is converted to Wildlife Sanctuary. Recently administration issued a notification which prohibits the pilgrims/tourist not to enter the forest by leaving the prescribed track, not to light fire (cook food) and not to play loud music or microphones, as these things pollutes the environment and disturbs the Wildlife. Notification also prohibits private stalls, tents and hawkers on the route inside the sanctuary.

This was highly opposed by Barat Sadhu Samaj. (Saints community) saying that pilgrims don't eat charity food and hence they need to cook their own food. On the contrary they demanded that administration should protect the pilgrims from Wildlife. They also said pilgrims must be allowed to play music and religious songs and to collect wood for fire from the forest. Sadhu Samaj said that such measures are taken by administration to add to the difficulties of the pilgrims and there by discourage more pilgrims/tourist taking part in Parikrama.

A sick lion cub was rescued by forest department officials from a farm near Khambha on Thursday morning after a six-hour-long operation. After first aid, it was shifted to a care centre. Farmers informed forest officials about the ill cub. It took them six hours to find it.

A fortnight ago, an injured lioness was found from east Gir in Mandvi area of Jasadhar range. This is close to Babariya range, known for poaching cases.

The injured lioness was found in a trap. It was shifted to Jasadhar wildlife treatment centre. It was old and blind and was in the trap for over three weeks.

According to Gir Nature Youth Club president Amit Jethwa, who has written a letter to Chief Minister Narendra Modi, at least three lions were found injured and a lioness was found dead recently. The last incident was declared to be a result of infighting.

Earlier, a cub was found from a trap in Veraval range. An injured lion from the sanctuary area was also shifted to Sakkarbaug zoo from Ransivav area after its condition deteriorated.

TOI repeatedly made calls to district forest officer Anita Karne but she was not available for comment.

23-10-2009Trafic Jam in the centre of Gir National Park!Divya BhaskarBriefly translated from Gujarati

Diwali is festival for locals to go to pilgrimage places like Tulshishyam, Somnath and for relaxing at Diu. Lacs of tourist throng to these place for two-three night holiday.

Cars are now becoming very common. And many of such car-owner tourist take Dhari-Tulshishyam road to go to Diu, and Veraval – Somnath. This road passes right through the jungle and is not in good condition and narrow (as it should be!). This year never before situation happened. Tourist flow was so much that there was heavy traffic jam in the home of lions. Cars and vehicles were queued up for about 2 kms.

Kishore Kotecha's Comments :- should this be really allowed? It is almost important that controlled number of vehicles are allowed on this road. Heavy use of jungle road means too much of disturbance to wildlife. This means that more wild animals will move on the Periphary of the Gir forest causing more man-animal conflicts.

A sick lion cub was rescued by forest department officials from a farm near Khambha on Thursday morning after a six-hour-long operation. After first aid, it was shifted to a care centre.

Farmers informed forest officials about the ill cub. It took them six hours to find it.

A fortnight ago, an injured lioness was found from east Gir in Mandvi area of Jasadhar range. This is close to Babariya range, known for poaching cases.

The injured lioness was found in a trap. It was shifted to Jasadhar wildlife treatment centre. It was old and blind and was in the trap for over three weeks.

According to Gir Nature Youth Club president Amit Jethwa, who has written a letter to Chief Minister Narendra Modi, at least three lions were found injured and a lioness was found dead recently. The last incident was declared to be a result of infighting.

Earlier, a cub was found from a trap in Veraval range. An injured lion from the sanctuary area was also shifted to Sakkarbaug zoo from Ransivav area after its condition deteriorated.

TOI repeatedly made calls to district forest officer Anita Karne but she was not available for comment.

Pilgrims climbing their way up to mount Girnar will be treated with glasses of milk and water, while emergency medical services in makeshift hospitals will be on stand by during annual event of Girnar parikrama (pilgrimage).

The parikrama from October 29 to November 2 is an annual event in Kartik month of the Hindu calendar, when devotees beat 36 km of rough mountain terrain and jungles of mount Girnar by foot, to visit various religious spots along the way. To make this journey a smooth-sailing affair for devotees, the district administration leaves no stone unturned.

"The entire route of the parikrama has been personally inspected by district collector Ashwini Kumar, deputy conservator of forest Anita Karne and forest staff. An emergency meeting was held in which several orders regarding maintaining health and other facilities for the pilgrims were issued," said a district administrative official.

The administration decided to put up milk distributing centres at 13 places in Jhinabava Ni Madhi, Marvela, Bordevi, Itanva Ni Ghodi and Nalpani Na Besna places along the route of the parikrama.

"There will also be drinking water points erected at 36 places on the route by Junagadh Municipal Corporation. That apart, seven makeshift hospitals, four emergency ambulance services and four mobile units will be pressed into service to meet any eventuality during the event," said the official.

Junagadh RTO will be plying an extra 130 buses to ferry pilgrims from the city to Bhavnath, the starting point of the parikrama, while Western Railway, Junagadh division will be adding an extra four coaches to every Junagadh-bound train. There will also be a special train for Satadhar.

Junagadh fire brigade has been ordered to stand guard round-the-clock in the event of fire fighting to prevent any mishap on the parikrama route. Meanwhile, the forest department has urged pilgrims to stick to the route charted for them, in order not to protect environment and not to disturb wildlife.

The death of another eight-year-old lion in Dhari forest range within a week, has raised suspicions about whether the big cats succumbed to some disease. On Tuesday, forest department found a lion's carcass near a village in Amreli district. This is the second lion found dead under mysterious circumstances. The first, a 10-year-old, was found dead on October 15 near Pipalva village in the same range, and officials had assumed old age as the reason for the death, but now they are not so sure.

In both cases, residents of villages on the periphery of Gir sanctuary informed forest officials. The claws and skeleton were intact, indicating they were not poached. The beast could have died of some disease but the exact cause will be known only after the post-mortem report is received, say officials. Usually, if an animal dies of a disease, a detailed analysis is carried out.

Former principal chief conservator of forest, GA Patel said that these were stray incidents and there was possibility that snake bite or viral infection could have caused the death. Formation of maggots in the body is cited as another reason for the death. Generally maggots are formed after an animal gets injured after infighting.

The Gujarat-based company was served notice for unauthorised quarrying of limestone on 320 hectares, worth as much as Rs 640 crore in govt royalty

A leading cement company has been accused of illegal limestone quarrying over 320 hectares in Junagadh district over three years. The Junagadh collector recently issued notices to the cement company as also farmers who had leased the land for the purpose without permission.

According to the notice, the Gujarat-based company quarried limestone on 120 hectares of farm land and 200 ha of cattle grazing land belonging to the gram panchayat.

Sarpanch Somabhai Chavda of Rampra village of Veraval taluka in Junagadh lodged the complaint in a local court against the mining. He said the company encroached grazing land in the village to start its illegal operations.

Following the complaint, the state government's geology and mining department sent a team to survey the claim and assess the extent of mining.

Team member R H Patel said the survey revealed that limestone mining had been illegally done on 120 ha of agricultural land under survey no. 87/P/9 and 87/P/7. Sources said, according to rules, the government is entitled to a royalty of Rs 2 crore for every hectare of land put under limestone mining.

Thus, the cement company which allegedly carried out mining on 320 hectares in Junagadh district would be liable to pay the government as much as Rs 640 crore in royalty.

Farmer and local BJP leader Razak Isabhai said he complained to Home Minister Amit Shah about the illegal mining on five occasions in the past.

Following this, he claimed he got threat calls from officials of the cement company. Isabhai said he then wrote to the collector and sought police protection. He said he took up the matter as the illegal quarrying was causing the government a loss of about Rs 700 crore.

The survey report said the cement company also mined minerals from several plots of farm land and covered up the craters with rubble weighing at least 1,500 tonnes. Sources said the government plans to itself pursue the issue with the company after illegations of inaction by the district collectorate.

The International Union of Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has, on its red list, the Asiatic lion as an endangered species. The main threat to the Gir lion, it says, is from poachers who sell its bone as tiger bone which is used in Chinese remedies.

CID (crime) investigation of poaching of the eight lions in Saurashtra in 2007 revealed that lions were killed for selling bones and now an environment-related website has said that lions were next target as the number of tigers was falling.

Another website says because tigers are highly prized in Chinese 'remedies', they have become one of the scarcest creatures on the planet. And the insatiable appetite of China's 'nouveau riche' is now threatening lions, whose bones cannot be distinguished from tiger bones. Quoting Belinda Wright, head of the Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI), the website says the huge demand for tiger bones and body parts is from China, and that India is 'like a supermarket'. Unfortunately, lions are joining tigers as an essential ingredient on China's endangered species shopping list, the website says.

Officials said that forest department must take this threat seriously as it was in April 2007 that for the first time poaching of lions was reported for commercial purpose on a large scale.

IUCN website also goes on to say that governments should provide financial resources to prevent hunting and help conservation through local communities.

About Asiatic lions, IUCN says that Gir lion population reduced to somewhere below 20 in the early years of 20th century. In 2005, the population was estimated at 359, including cubs. The WPSI reported 34 lion deaths in 2007, due to poaching, electrocution, falling into open wells, and death by motor vehicle and unknown causes.Officials said even WPSI had warned that a new phase in wildlife poaching to meet Chinese demands could wipe out world's only Asiatic lion population.

After 2007 poaching incident, the WPSI said, "This serious new development points to the fact that since tigers are so scarce in the wild, poachers are now targeting the last remaining population of Asiatic lions. Gir lions are an easy target, since they are comparatively used to people and live in open scrub forest."

The king has found another jungle. At least 17 lions have moved out of Gir forest to the grassland in Mahuva taluka of Bhavnagar district to make their new home. And, the wild cats can now be easily spotted roaming around in the unprotected areas.

This taluka has a natural corridor with Gir which is home to the Asiatic lion.

Forest officials say that the area was best suited for lions because it was a savannah grass land and had a prey base of Neelgai, Cheetal and wild pigs.

Lion droppings tested over the period showed samples of the coats of Neelgai and Cheetal, indicating the beast's preferences.

Officials say that in the past few months there have been compensation claims made for killing of 12 to 15 cattles only, which was far less than the ones made from civilian area around Gir.

Residents of this area are quite happy to have the king in their midst. Says Rajendra Patel, "Lions are a pride in the area and people do keep a check on their movement in the area." He adds that beat guards are regularly informed about the movement of the animal and the roars heard in nearby areas.

Citing an example of Savarkundla in Amreli, he said a lion was recently rescued from the well but people insisted that the wild cat should be left back in their area after treatment.

A senior officer from the Bhavnagar said that there were four guards, three foresters, nine beat guards and 11 van sahayaks along with one range forest officer to man the 80-km stretch, which is about 5,000 hectares. The officers said that once people are aware of the presence of lions they have been pressurising them to take them to the area to show the lions.

BN Srivastava, in-charge principal conservator of forest (wildlife) says, "There is no proposal at present to declare the area as a sanctuary or a conservation zone."

A lion pounced on an unsuspecting villager in Jasapar of Gir and injured the man severely on Thursday night.

The man was returning home after casual labour in Dhava village of Gir taluka.

According to sources, Keshu Koli has been admitted to a hospital in Talala with severe injuries on his legs. He received 10 stitches, attending doctor Ashish Makadia pf Talala primary health care centre said. Koli has been refereed to Junagadh civil hospital for further treatment.

According to reports, the lion was taking shelter along with its three cubs in an area falling on Dhava and Jasapar village borders. The youth happened to pass by the area and was attacked. Hearing his cries, villagers came to his rescue, not before the lion had managed to bite Koli's leg.

Friday, October 16, 2009

A lion was found dead in a village in Khamba taluka of Amreli district on Thursday morning. The cause of death is yet to be ascertained, the forest department said.

According to sources, the carcass was found in the morning from the field of Babu Vekariya, which is located in Tulsishyam range of Gir (north). Foresters rushed to the spot and took the carcass away for postmortem examination (PM), the report of which was inconclusive.

Confirming the news, district forest officer of Junagadh M Raja said, "The lion was about nine to 10 years old. As the cause of death was not ascertained from the PM, we have sent the viscera of the animal to Junagadh's forensic laboratory." The other parts of the animal were intact, Raja added.

Two farm labour Keshu Lakha (Age – 35) and Bhikha Bhana, resident of Jasapar in Talala sub – district of Gir West were coming back to their home from adjoing Lushada village. On the jungle road, near the river in Bhabhadiya area, a lioness leaped out and attacked Keshu. It caught him from his thigh and would not leave him. To save his friend, Bhikha at the tree branch and swung it on the animal. Lioness left his leg Keshu was then taken to hospital.

As wild tiger populations dwindle, poachers are turning to lions to feed the insatiable Chinese appetite for 'potions' made from big cat bones.

Conservationists are sounding the alarm about a disturbing development in the fight to save wildlife from poaching: Lions are being killed as a substitute for tigers so their bones can be sold as Chinese "remedies."

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It is no coincidence that because tigers are highly prized in Chinese "remedies" , they have become one of the scarcest creatures on the planet. And the insatiable appetite of China's "nouveau riche" is now threatening lions, whose bones are indistinguishable from tiger bones.

Years of warning signs

The killing of endangered wildlife to meet Chinese demand is rampant in India; the proximity to China and porous borders make it easy for poachers and smugglers to operate in the region. Villagers are eager to carry out the killings on behalf of poaching organizations. Belinda Wright, head of the Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI) says that the huge demand for tiger bones and body parts is from China, and that India is "like a supermarket."

Unfortunately, lions are joining tigers as an essential ingredient on China's endangered species shopping list.

Most at risk is the Asiatic lion (Panthera leo persica), a subspecies of the African lion (Panthera leo) found only in the Gir Forest of India. The Asiatic lion is classified as Endangered by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, and has a current population of just 350 individuals.

Although the population is considered stable, a single event, such as disease or forest fire, could result in extinction of this species. And, as we are witnessing with wild tiger and rhino, if poaching increases, this small population is not likely to survive.

There are indications of poaching incidents in recent years (there are reports that organised gangs have switched attention from tigers to these lions).

The Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI), warned us back in 2007 that a new phase in wildlife poaching to meet Chinese demands could wipe out the world's only Asiatic lion population.

This serious new development points to the fact that since tigers are so scarce in the wild, these poachers are now targeting the last remaining population of Asiatic Lions. Gir's lions are an easy target, since they are comparatively used to people and live in open scrub forest. Their bones are also virtually indistinguishable from those of tigers. There is no market for big cat parts in India, and their poaching and the trade is entirely driven by demand from outside India's borders, for use in traditional Chinese medicine.

Also in 2007, environmental photojournalist Debby Ng wrote in asia! Magazine that both leopards and lions are now used as common substitutes for tiger bones. Ng has worked with TRAFFIC, WWF, WSPA, and EIA.

Ng stated in her article that according to Valmik Thapar, conservationist and one of the world's leading experts in Indian tigers, 12 - 14 Asiatic lions were poached within six months in Gir National Park. Thapar said that poaching for the Chinese tiger trade was confirmed by the fact that only the bones were removed from the dead lions - just as in the case of tigers killed for Chinese "potions."

Even earlier, Dr. A.J.T. Johnsingh, a wildlife biologist with Nature Conservation Foundation, Mysore, and WWF-India, reported in 2004 that Gir's Asiatic lions were being killed by villagers working in conjunction with poachers.

In April 2004, a lion was found in the Dedakadi forest range, near the Gir headquarters at Sasan, with its right paw nearly ripped off – a sure sign of the use of a leg-hold jaw trap, which is commonly used to kill tigers. Soon officials detected organised poaching of lions, and there were reports of bones being removed from carcasses, and it came to light that tribal poachers from Madhya Pradesh, disguised as agricultural labourers, were killing the lions. The needle of suspicion pointed persistently to the TCM business as it is difficult to differentiate bones of lions from those of tigers.

While the main threat to African lions at this point is human encroachment (especially poisoning by farmers), Dereck Joubert, a National Geographic filmmaker and writer focusing on big cats, said in today's Washington Post that African lions are also at risk of becoming commodities in China.

Big cats are in trouble everywhere. The number of tigers has dipped below 3,000. Indeed, as we look at the lion population today, it's the shadow of the tiger's history that scares me most. Tiger bones are used extensively in the East for medicines and mythological (read nonsense) cures for ailments or limp libidos, and the demand is increasing. A growing demand and a disappearing supply is a formula for disaster.

The solution we are seeing play out is a switch from tiger bones to lion bones, which can be easily sold off as tiger bones. It's ironic that the most famous animal in Africa, perhaps in the world, can't even be poached on its own value but only as a "mock tiger."

Joubert also noted that the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) is meeting this week to decide whether lions, whose numbers have declined by 50 percent in the past 20 years, are worthy of protection under Appendix I.

Heed the warning - before it's too late for lions

Sadly, one only needs to look at the decline in wild tiger and rhinoceros populations to see that CITES protections are not enough to deter poachers. Commercial poaching has become big business - thanks to the boom in population and the "new wealth" in China. And despite being a CITES signatory, Chinese consumption of products derived from endangered species - especially tigers - is flourishing.

There is no doubt that If China does succeed in wiping out our planet's wild tigers, commercial poaching operations - funded by Chinese demand and affluence - will also push lions to extinction.

Fighting for the long-term wellbeing of Asiatic lions in their Gir abode, the Gujarat government has again demanded over Rs200 crore from the Planning Commission and the Union ministry of environment and forest for lion conservation.

Following up on Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi's meeting with Planning Commission officials in New Delhi last week, forest officials in the state have revised their earlier proposal for rehabilitation and conservation, adding several new scientific initiatives to conserve the lions in their last abode in Gir Wildlife Sanctuary in Junagadh.

"Funds are needed for rehabilitation of Maldhari families living in the forest and also for several other lion conservation projects. We have sent a revised proposal of Rs200 crore to the Planning Commission," said SK Nanda, principal secretary, environment and forest.

In a fiery meeting with central officials last week, Modi had alleged discrimination in allotment of wildlife conservation fund to Gujarat, as the state had been refusing to part with lions for Madhya Pradesh. Gujarat is facing a legal battle in the Supreme Court over the movement of lions to MP's Kuno sanctuary.

"Gujarat has done a very good job in conserving the lion population, and we have always been spending from our pockets. We need more funds now for better conservation of lions," the chief minister is reported to have said in his presentation.

While a confirmation from the ministry is awaited, sources in Delhi said the proposal was "pretty good and is being looked at in a favourable light."

"The aid is likely to be sanctioned soon," the source added.

Gujarat government and the Centre has been locked in a stalemate over lion conservation for long, with the state blaming the latter for paying more attention to tigers' conservation at the expense of lions.

Centre has also hit back at Gujarat, alleging politics behind Modi government's refusal to relocate some lions to Kuno. However, if officials in the forest and environment ministry are to be believed, the new minister of state Jairam Ramesh is not keen on dragging his feet over the issue. The minister is expected to visit Gir forest to oversee the lion conservation efforts either this week or after Diwali.

Gujarat plans to have a state-of-the-art genetic laboratory dedicated to the conservation of Asiatic lion. The laboratory will have a library of the lion's gene map and maintain sperm, egg, cell and tissue bank of the big cat for biological use and genetic studies.

According to the officials of the state Forest Department, this is being done as part of the Gujarat government's conservation plan for the endangered lions of Gir.

The proposed laboratory, Gujarat Institute of Wildlife Genomics (GIWG) or LEOGEN, will come up at Sakkar Baug Zoo in Junagadh.

A joint project of the state Forest Department and the Gujarat State Bio-technology Mission (GSBM), LEOGEN will be set up at an estimated cost of over Rs 10 crore.

"We have already received a couple of crores for LEOGEN and the details of the project are being considered by the state government. Work for LEOGEN will start in about a month's time. The entire project is expected to take about three years to complete," said Pradeep Khanna, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, Gujarat.

With this, Gujarat will become the first state in the country to have a genetic laboratory for conservation of its wildlife assets. Sasan Gir in Gujarat is the last habitat of the Asiatic lion in the world. As per the last census, there are only 359 lions in the state.

LEOGEN is aimed at conserving the endangered Asiatic lion through biotechnological interventions. It will have facilities for DNA banking, cellular studies, proteomics, cryogenics and bio-informatics.

The project also includes two pilot studies on Asiatic lions — development of micro satellite markers (or specific sequence of DNA unique to the Asiatic lion) and preliminary DNA banking of the Asiatic lion.

GSBM and the Forest Department will joinlty conduct these studies.

Khanna said: "At present, our focus is mainly on the long term conservation of the Asiatic lion. LEOGEN will later work on similar conservation plans for other endangered species in the state."

According to GSBM officials, a detailed genetic profiling of the Asiatic lion will help scientists find out any genetic structure that links the animal to some known disease or disorder (disease susceptibility), help in their long term conservation, facilitate correct medical treatment in case of a disease and provide forensic help in case of poaching.

In violation of forest law, a cement concrete road has been built parallel to the approach to the shrine at Datar Mountain on the outskirts of Junagadh.

A forest offence report (FOR) has been filed in this regard against an illegal occupant of the shrine and his associates. The deputy conservator of forest (Girnar range) has ordered an inquiry into the matter, although no arrests have been made so far.

According to the forest officials, the FOR was registered on Thursday against four accused including Mahant Vithalbhai and his three associates under Rule 29 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. The mahant was also found involved in other serious offences like tree felling and causing damage to the environment and the sanctuary area.

Anita Karan, Deputy Conservator of Forest (Girnar range), confirmed the incident and said: "Some construction of a cement concrete road has been noticed on a narrow stretch parallel to the steps en route to the Datar shrine. We have registered an FOR in this regard apart from instituting an inquiry against the on-duty forest staff."

She added: "The accused had been found indulging in such activities in the past too. They (the shrine occupants) are trying to build a road, thereby disturbing wildlife and damaging the forest. Whenever such activities surface, we prevent them, but the problem is long pending."

When asked about the use of camels for carrying goods to the shrine inside the sanctuary, Karan said, "It is illegal and I am looking into the matter."

According to sources, the mahant has been using half a dozen camels to transport construction material. The animals have been reportedly spotted at the Willingdon Dam at the foot of the Datar Mountain.

A forest official refusing to be named said that a 300-metre stretch of the three kilometer long road has been built recently. "The road has been built between Sakkarmai Point and Chithadiya Pir shrine en route to the Datar shrine," he said. The official also alleged that a few influential people have been shielding the accused.

The issueThe Datar shrine, located on the eponymous mountain peak falls within the Girnar sanctuary area. It is managed by the district administration: the district collector is the chairman of the shrine, while the mamlatdar administers it.

Two communities have been waging a 19-year-long court battle over the control of the shrine. Three years ago, a Junagadh court had passed an order to appoint a new bhandari of the shrine and evict the illegal occupants. But with no further action in this regard, the matter is pending.

A group of 11 persons that went inside Gir Sanctuary to watch a lion show after midnight on Wednesday were fined by forest officials and let off.

Sources said the incident took place between Borvav and Dhava villages. A pride of lions preyed on a buffalo and nearby villagers rushed to the spot to see it. One of local from Borvav informed his relative in Junagadh, who rushed to the spot with a group of 10 people. Forest officials came to know about the incident after they found an abandoned Sumo car in the forest. When the group came to pick their vehicle in the morning, they were rounded up and their recorded statements were then corroborated.

District forest officer of Gir West Amit Kumar said, "We wanted to find out if this was a planned thing, so it was necessary to record their statements. From their interrogation we found that this was not a planned show. Hence, they were only fined for intrusion."

Kumar added that had they been booked under section 11 of wildlife protection Act, they would have been in lot of trouble since this is a non-bailable offence. But understanding their situation, we took a lenient view and each person was fined Rs 500."

In what seems like a gross violation of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, a cement concrete road is coming up in a part of Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary near Junagadh city.

The 2.5-km, 10-feet-wide road on Datar Hill is already constructed, but work is still on. Heavy vehicles like tractors are also plying on the road. Unfortunately, no one seems to care about this.

The road starts from Wellingdon Dam and goes to Hathipaga on Datar Hills. It's parallel to the steps going to Datar Hill and while constructing it many trees would have been cut.

However, forest department officials seem unaware of this. On being asked, deputy conservator of forests (DCF) Anita Karne said, "We are not aware of this but will inquire into the matter and do the needful."

"This road has come up in gross violation of wildlife protection laws. This can't be allowed," said a local who has been fighting for the conservation of Gir forest.

Junagadh-based All India Sadhu Samaj has decided to take to the streets over the delay in the implementation of the aerial ropeway project at Mount Girnar. Some 45 renowned sadhus, mahants and temple heads of the region will lead the 'Rasta-Roko' (road block) agitation at Vanthali Gate area of the city on Friday.

Political parties, including BJP, Congress, CPM and BSP, various youth organisations and NGOs will also take part in the protest to register their support.

All India Sadhu Samaj (Gujarat Chapter) president Mahant Gopalanand said: "Despite being cleared at various stages, the ropeway project is being delayed for some reason or the other. Moreover, no political leader is coming forward to take up the issue. So, we have decided to raise the issue with the support of all sections of the society."

He added: "After the agitation, office bearers of our New Delhi head office will take up the issue with the concerned minister and department."

While supporting the move of the All India Sadhu Samaj, Satish Captain, Mayor, Junagadh Municipal Corporation, said: "We have already taken up the issue with the concerned authorities. We have written letters asking them to speed up the project."

City BJP president, Karsan Dhadook, said: "The BJP is supporting the agitation. We will give them full support as joint efforts are needed for the realisation of this project."

Dhadook, however, accused the Congress of politicising the issue. "The ball is now in the Centre's court. If Congressmen put pressure on the party, there is a chance of the project being implemented soon," he said. A meeting, presided over by the Union Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh, will be held in New Delhi on September 10 to discuss the pros and cons of the project.

"If we fail to submit our case, the ropeway project will never see light of the day," Dhadook said, adding that the BJP is planning to start a signature movement in support of the project.

Meanwhile, leaflets bearing the names of the mahants, organisations and individuals participating in the agitation were distributed in Junagadh on Wednesday, asking the general public to support Friday's agitation.

Junagadh-based All India Sadhu Samaj has decided to take to the streets over the delay in the implementation of the aerial ropeway project at Mount Girnar. Some 45 renowned sadhus, mahants and temple heads of the region will lead the 'Rasta-Roko' (road block) agitation at Vanthali Gate area of the city on Friday.

Political parties, including BJP, Congress, CPM and BSP, various youth organisations and NGOs will also take part in the protest to register their support.

All India Sadhu Samaj (Gujarat Chapter) president Mahant Gopalanand said: "Despite being cleared at various stages, the ropeway project is being delayed for some reason or the other. Moreover, no political leader is coming forward to take up the issue. So, we have decided to raise the issue with the support of all sections of the society."

He added: "After the agitation, office bearers of our New Delhi head office will take up the issue with the concerned minister and department."

While supporting the move of the All India Sadhu Samaj, Satish Captain, Mayor, Junagadh Municipal Corporation, said: "We have already taken up the issue with the concerned authorities. We have written letters asking them to speed up the project."

City BJP president, Karsan Dhadook, said: "The BJP is supporting the agitation. We will ive them full support as joint efforts are needed for the realisation of this project."

Dhadook, however, accused the Congress of politicising the issue. "The ball is now in the Centre's court. If Congressmen put pressure on the party, there is a chance of the project being implemented soon," he said. A meeting, presided over by the Union Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh, will be held in New Delhi on September 10 to discuss the pros and cons of the project.

"If we fail to submit our case, the ropeway project will never see light of the day," Dhadook said, adding that the BJP is planning to start a signature movement in support of the project.

Meanwhile, leaflets bearing the names of the mahants, organisations and individuals participating in the agitation were distributed in Junagadh on Wednesday, asking the general public to support Friday's agitation.

The appointment of a new forest official has not gone down well with sadhus in the Girnar range and they are demanding his immediate transfer, alleging the officer is anti-sadhu and anti-religion.

The officer in question is B K Parmar, who has been posted as Range Forest Officer (RFO) of Girnar south. He has also been given additional charge of the Girnar north range. He had served on the same post as RFO in the past.

A group of Girnar-based sadhus, including Mahant Gopalanand, Mahant Tansukhgiri, Ramnarayandas, Mahant Ramdasji,Bachgiri, Gangagiri and others, have expressed their reservation against the appointment with the Forest department here.

BJP leaders, including local MLA Mahendra Mashru, have supported them. They claim the officer is rude in his behaviour and regularly abuses sadhus.

In a memorandum submitted to the concerned authorities here on Thursday, Junagadh-based Sadhu Samaj demanded his transfer.

"In the past, Parmar was a headache for the heads of religious places and temples. At that time, we were forced to launch an agitation against him, as a result of which he was transferred," said Mahant Gopalanand.

He added they will again resort to demonstration if the officer is not transferred immediately.

Junagadh BJP president Karsan Dhadook said: "We support their demand, as the said officer is anti-religion. Creating problems for the temple heads in the forest region is his hobby. We have already made representation to the concerned authorities and urged the state Forest Minister to transfer him."

The 'King of Jungle' would soon get a second home in Kuno Palpur sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh as preparations are in full swing to relocate the pure-gene Asiatic lions from Delhi and Hyderabad zoos.

So far, lions are found only in Gir forests of Gujarat.

"The Hyderabad-based Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology has analysed that all the lions in captivity have pure Asiatic strains. Now, we are waiting for the ministry's nod for shifting some of them to Kuno Palpur park," Delhi Zoo Director D N Singh told PTI.

"It is going to happen soon," he said.

In order to ensure that adequate number of lions are left in the zoo, two more lions have been brought from Hyderabad Zoo today itself.

"Moreover, we are rearing two six-month-old cubs for our zoo," he added.

President Pratibha Patil today visited the Gir Sanctuary, the last habitat of Asiatic Lions in the world.

The President, who arrived in Sasan from Dwarka, went to watch lions inside the Sanctuary and spent around two hours, state forest department sources said.

However, it was not clear how many lions were spotted by the President's party.

The department had made special arrangements for President at Kamleshwar dam and Dedakiya where lions were spotted in the last three days. The National Park lies 65 km south-east of Junagarh in Gujarat.

A special 'Dhamal Dance' was also performed by Siddi community later in the evening at "Sinh Sadan" where the President will have an overnight stay.

Of the total of 1412 square kms, 258 square kms are fully protected area. The sanctuary was established in 1965.

More than 100 persons form part of President Pratibha Patil's ongoing entourage during her visit to Saurashtra, straining theGujarat government, which is still not sure who would foot the bill for the army of relatives from Maharashtra who have trooped in to join the fun till Sunday.

Government guest houses and all other suitable accommodation has been booked for the VVIPs, including many from the Patil clan. The five day visit — the longest any President has stayed in Gujarat - includes visits to Somnath, Porbandar, Gir and Dwarka. The itinerary includes visits to temples, enjoying wildlife and paying obeisance at places linked to Mahatma Gandhi.

According to the information given by the Rashtrapati Bhavan to the Gujarat government, 47 persons were to land in Ahmedabad on September 30. This apart, 45 persons were to join her from Jalgaon and another 25 persons from Bhusaval. Most of them travelled by train to join the President. Air-conditioned buses and cars were booked locally for them to be taken to different places.

An official, requesting anonymity, said: "There is lack of clarity on who will pay. The state protocol department was told to make arrangements, which it did promptly. So far, everything is running on credit. The President's officials are not telling us whether they will be paying for private individuals."

In Gir forest on Friday, a dozen cars took nearly 30 persons along with the President to lion safari. "The President spotted 23 lions at four different spots," said an official. While the government denied it, buffaloes were offered as bait to herd the lions. Later, a tribe of African descent settled in the Gir forests presented a dance for the visitors.

Chief minister Narendra Modi has accompanied the President for most of the visit. An official press release said it was Gujarat's honour that the President was spending five days in the state. It said Modi briefed her and her family about the developmental activities in the state.

Rules are for the country's citizens to obey; but not for the country's first citizen - or so it seems. Did President Pratibha Patil's much hyped visit for a dekko at the lions in the Gir Wildlife Sanctuary violate the laws of the jungle? The sanctuary is closed every year for visitors between June 15 to October 15 during monsoon, as decided by the forest department, as this is supposed to be the mating season for lions.

But an exception seems to have been made to accommodate the vacation plans of the President, who visited the sanctuary with an entourage of nine vehicles on Friday evening. If reports by local foresters are to be believed, the President's visit was a smash hit with sightings of four lion prides in a span of less than three hours.

A school of thought emerging from the locals is that laws should be the same for everyone. "We had sent a fax to all the senior forest officials that the Presidential visit is a violation of the forest laws. If there is a notification which disallows everyone from entering the sanctuary area, why should there be exceptions? This is the time for lions to mate. Human movement on such a massive scale disturbs and enrages the lions. If it was an official visit it could still be justified," a local activist Amit Jethava said.

Last year, the lions had created a furore when a male lion killed a man on the spot, who was taking pictures of a mating pair on his mobile. However, the principal secretary environment and forests, SK Nanda claims no exception has been made for the President and a notification has been issued to open the sanctuary to everyone.

"The sanctuary is also closed for maintenance of roads after rainfall, to clear fallen trees... There have been virtually no rains here since July, so very little repair work was required and the sanctuary was therefore reopened earlier than scheduled," he said.

Union minister of state, Jairam Ramesh, is also scheduled to visit the sanctuary to personally observe the forest department's plans for the expansion of lion habitat. This is an official visit.

President Pratibha Patil, who is on a five-day tour to Gujarat, visited the historic Somnath temple on Saturday. Patil, along with her relatives, arrived at Somnath around noon and offered special prayers to the Lord. She did Mahapuja and Arati at the temple. Somnath Temple Trust president and former chief minister Keshubhai Patel, finance minister Vajubhai Vala andother dignitaries accompanied Patil. .

DNA President Pratibha Patil offers special prayers at the Somnath Temple. She was later presented with a memento by Keshubhai Patel.You may also want to see

Keshubhai presented to the President a silver model of the temple, shawl, sari andthree-dimensional photos of Somnath Jyotirlinga. Patil also took a round of the seashore along with Keshubhai and other dignitaries. She wrote a message in the visitors' book. The message read: "May the Lord Somnath give all happiness to the countrymen."

Later she took lunch at Somnath VIP Guest House and after resting for a while, she visited Golakdham temple and did Puja of Shri Krishna's Charan Paduka. Elaborate security arrangements were made in Somnath and the temple was kept closed for general public during the President's visit. She visited other nearby places and around 3.30 pm, she left for Diu.

Earlier in the day, Patil visited the Gir Sanctuary. She spent around two hours in the jungle watching lions. On Friday, she had spotted lions in the sanctuary at three different spots.She also handed over mementos to members of the Siddi community who performed a traditional 'Dhamal Dance' before her.

Patil stayed overnight at a hotel in Gir Wildlife sanctuary. At Diu, the president was to be given a "guard of honour" and was to attend a cultural programme. She will visit Nagva Beach and Saint Paul Church in Diu on Sunday. She will return to Rajkot on Sunday evening and will leave for New Delhi thereafter.

President Pratibha Patil offered Maha-puja and took part in the Aarti at the famous Somnath Temple on Saturday morning, followed by a round of the temple premises. She left for Diu later in the day, where she will stay for the night.

On Friday evening, President Patil had visited the world famous Gir forest to watch the Asiactic lions. The President's convoy reached the interiors of the forest around 5.30 pm. During her two-and-a -half hour stay in the forest, the cavalcade covered some 50 kms during which she saw more than a dozen lions and other wildlife.

At one point of time, a lioness and her cubs came close to the door of her car, putting the security personnel in a tizzy.

After her return from the forest, a group of Sidi youths performed the Dhamaal dance at the Sinh-Sadan guest house. Later she interacted with members of the tribe and presented them with mementoes from the Rashtrapati Bhavan. President Patil also met women from the Maldhari tribe, who reside in tiny hutments located in the interiors of the forest. She also spent time with award winning artist from the Sidi tribe-Hirbaiben.

The king of the jungle may yet roam the forests of Madhya Pradesh, with the state now planning to borrow and breed zoo lions for the wild after Gujarat refused to part with its big cats of Gir.

Madhya Pradesh wants to create a new population of Asiatic lions with the help of the Delhi and Hyderabad zoos, an Indian forest service official said.

Efforts are on to get at least two pairs of Asiatic lions from zoos, use them for breeding and let loose their descendants in the Kuno-Palpur sanctuary in Sehore district.

If the plan is successful, it will be India's first population of Asiatic lions outside the Gir forest of Gujarat.

"Once their numbers grow in the coming years, they will establish a secure breeding population," said the official.

He said Madhya Pradesh has already discussed its plan at the meeting of the National Wildlife Advisory Board held in Delhi Sep 16 under the chairmanship of the Union Minister for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh.

"It is believed that zoos in New Delhi and Hyderabad have agreed to provide lions for breeding in Kuno-Palpur, after Gujarat refused to provide Gir lions that would allow Kuno-Palpur to become an alternate habitat for the Asiatic lion," said the official.

"Kuno-Palpur will begin as a breeding centre. As the breeding succeeds, the plan is to release the third generation of lions into the forest. Five pairs of lions will be released during a period of 10 years into Kuno-Palpur - a sanctuary that has been identified as an alternative habitat for the endangered Asiatic lion.

"We have already got the nod from Hyderabad from where we will soon be getting zoo-bred lions," the official told IANS.

Talks are also in progress with the Delhi Zoo authorities for relocating four lions from there to the Kuno-Palpur.

"The sanctuary should have a sizable number of big cats in the next 10-15 years. A special team of veterinary experts would be appointed to take care of the new inmates," he added.

The Dehradun-based Wildlife Research Institute has for long felt that the 1,400-sq km Gir forest in Gujarat, with its population of over 325 big cats, was too small for housing such a large number of animals.

It also feels that the concentration of the entire lion population at one place exposes it to the danger of being wiped out by disease or natural calamity.

The institute zeroed in on the 344-sq km Kuno-Palpur sanctuary and launched the Asiatic Lions Reproduction Project, a Rs.640-million ($15-million) centrally funded scheme.

It envisaged tranquillising the animals and transporting them by air from Gir to Kuno-Palpur, where they were to be housed in a pre-release centre for acclimatization.

Gujarat, however, flatly refused to part with its prized lions, saying any new site should be natural and not an artificially created one. Gujarat's forest officials also did not rule out a tiger-lion conflict in Kuno-Palpur since the two can never co-exist in the same place.

Madhya Pradesh's Chief Conservator of Forests, H.S. Pabla, however, rules out any such threat, saying: "The new habitat at Kuno-Palpur was chosen as the most apt second home for the Asiatic lion after scientific deliberation based on several parameters."

The sanctuary is home to Royal Bengal tigers, leopards, wolves and other species of wild animals.

Forest department sources say Kuno-Palpur, with its windswept grasslands punctuated with trees and low shrubs, is a perfect habitat for the lions which, unlike tigers, move around in prides - each comprising up to 14 animals - and prefer grasslands with low shrubs.

They pointed out that the abundant water supply, grass cover to support the prey base and a minimal impact on human settlements were the other factors that favoured Kuno-Palpur over other sanctuaries.

The Maldharis of Gir requested President Pratibha Patil on Friday that their right as permanent residents of the forest area should be restored. Pointing out that they are being harassed in the name of protecting Gir Sanctuary and national park, they said, as permanent residents of Gir for several centuries, all Maldharis, including those shifted out, should get right to inherit property and right to graze by issuing permanent passes.

Though recognized as tribals, many Maldharis have not been given necessary certificates despite repeated requests to the Gujarat government, a memorandum submitted to the president, who was on a lion safari in Gir forests, stated. While they are not being allowed their fundamental right to prosper in the forest, commercial interests are being allowed to mine out areas next to Gir, leading to destruction of forest ecology, it adds.

The memorandum was handed over to the president at Dudhada nes by a group of Maldharis led by Amrabhai Vecha, who also happens to head the Maldhari Sewa Samaj, an apex body of Maldharis living within and outside the forest area. "The Maldharis are being treated as enemies of Gir lion, which is travesty of truth. Lion is part of our tradition," the memorandum says.

It further states that the Maldhari families shifted out of Gir have been given poor quality of land which they cannot till. Besides, as traditional pastoralists, the government should have promoted animal husbandry activities. About 900 families have so far been shifted out of Gir forests in the name of protecting the forest, while about 500 families are still living within Gir in tens of hamlets.

The authorities of Gir sanctuary are bending rules a bit to ensure an eye-to-eye encounter for President Pratibha Patil with the king of the jungle at the only abode of the Asiatic lions.

Though the sanctuary opens to visitors only on October 15, the President will be allowed inside on Friday on her maiden official visit to Gujarat. Forest officials are working overtime to watch the lions' movements, especially around the Kamleshwar dam in Gir forest. Two groups of lions were recently spotted in this area.

Patil will not only spend two-and-a-half hours in the jungle on Friday but also stay at the official forest lodge, Sinh Sadan, in the night. Sanctuary officials said foresters have tracked two groups of lions on the route the President would be taking. These are open areas where spotting is possible. The officials believe there would be at least nine lions within sight that day. They are also watching a smaller group of five. To make sure the President doesn't leave without spotting the lion, officials are trying to confine this group to a place by ensuring a prey base or arranging for a live bait.

Junagadh collector Ashwini Kumar said the President would be riding in her bullet proof car. Forest department officials, however, said she would have to switch to another vehicle because of the jungle terrain.

Not all VVIP visitors have been fortunate here. Prince Phillip, the Duke of Edinburgh, once returned without any success. He had to go back without seeing the lion as his security staff refused to allow him to get down from his vehicle because the area where the lion was spotted was not sanitised by them.

President Pratibha Patil will begin her five-day visit to Gujarat from Wednesday.

Her itinerary includes, among other things, a visit on October 2 to the world-famous Gir Sanctuary and a night-halt at the "Sinh Sadan" (a forest rest house) in Sasan Gir where she will be enthralled with "Dhamal Nrutya" – a traditional dance by members of the Sidi community.

On Wednesday, the President will attend a public felicitation function at the Town Hall in Gandhinagar at 6.30 in the evening, which will be attended by Governor S C Jamir and Chief Minister Narendra Modi. She will have a night halt at the Raj Bhavan.

The next day on Thursday at 9.30 in the morning, she will visit the Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad, and after spending an hour there, will pay a visit to the Sardar Patel National Memorial in Shahibaug, where she will inaugurate a community hall. Then, she will leave for Anand by helicopter and spend about three hours at Amul Dairy. She will return to Gandhinagar in the evening to make a night halt at the Raj Bhavan where a cultural programme will be organised for her.

On October 2, President Patil will attend an all-religious prayer at Porbandar to mark the 140th birth anniversary of Mahama Gandhi. After paying a visit to the Dwarka temple, she will reach Sasan Gir in the afternoon the same day.

District Collector Aswini Kumar, who is looking after the entire schedule of the presidential visit, said, the "Sinh-Sadan forest guest house at Sasan-Gir has been given a face-lift, and the Presidential Suite has also been prepared."

Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF) Pradeep Khanna, who is camping in the Gir sanctuary, added: "We have identified some spots in the tourism zone in Gir where Asiatic Lions are usually spotted, so as to enable the VVIPs to see the big cats. The rest house in Sasan Gir is also being spruced up for the President for her night-halt there."

A senior forest officer said: "Some two-three forest routes have been selected and prepared for the President's visit. She will take any of the three routes depending on the location of lions on the day and time."

The President will also be treated to traditional Kathiyawadi menu and Dhamaal dance during her two-day stay in Junagadh.

Kumar said: "Traditional Kathiyawadi dishes, which include 'Rotla, Shak, Olo, Sev Tometo, Papad, Khichadi –Kadhi', have been included in the menu. In addition, north Indian dishes have also been included in the fare.

According to official sources, President Patil may also visit Maldhari area (tiny hutments located in the interior of Gir forest).

Besides, the Sidi tribes will perform the Dhamaal Nrutya — which is similar to a dance form practiced by the Zulu tribes of Africa which the Sidis have acquired from their African ancestors – for the President and state Agriculture Minister Dilip Sanghani, who will accompany her on the lion sanctuary visit.

On October 3, the President will pay a visit to Somnath Temple at Veraval and take part in the pooja. Entry for the general public will be restricted for the two days due to security reasons.

The entire state machinery including the district administration, forest, police and the state government has been pressed into service for the high profile visit.

According to the Health Department, four teams of doctors comprising 30 medical officers have been pressed into service at four places where the President is scheduled to visit. Base hospitals have been set up at two places at Sasan and at Veraval.

Junagadh Civil Hospital Civil Surgeon Dr C T Dayalu and a team of senior health officials are busy with the preparation to provide all health facilities to the President if needed.

From Veraval, President Patil will leave for Diu, from where she will fly to Rajkot and back to Delhi the next day.